LIEUTENANT MARK “JABA” BUCK LEADS THE NEXT GENERATION OF AVIATORS

two women in military gear posing for a picture
Pictured is LT Mark “JABA” Buck (right) with his brother, Mike.

LT Mark “JABA” Buck knows his way around F/A-18 Super Hornet. And on March 29 & 30th, he will join the Southernmost Air Spectacular airshow in Key West, alongside others who have earned right to call themselves the best pilots in the world–including the celebrated Blue Angels. LT Buck carried out three deployments onboard the USS Ronald Reagan and is currently an instructor pilot, teaching F/A-18 tactics. We caught up with LT Buck on his career in the Navy, what it was like to live at sea during a pandemic and whether Hollywood “gets it right” when depicting the men and women inside the cockpit. Listen here on the Florida Keys Weekly Podcast and please visit Keywestairshow.com for more on the Southernmost Spectacular, March 29-30.  

Britt Myers
Britt Myers traded in a life of monetary success, a chiseled body and intellectual enlightenment for a piece of the pie of the Keys Weekly newspapers. He is also the proud parent of an incredible six-year-old and a sucker for Michael Mann movies and convenience store hot dogs.